January 30, 2009

1. So Tuesday morning I went to the Starbucks closer to school, and ordered my usual iced grande skim latte and a spinach wrap.  I opened my wallet, and realized that the night before to go to the movie, I had stuck my check card into my pocket.  Where it still was.  Unfortunately those pants were hanging on the hook in the bathroom.  “Stop!” I yelled to the barista.  “Cancel that!”  I told them I forgot my money. (This is, by the way, not the first time I have done this) I prepared to leave and the barista handed me the drink, and said that she should had made it anyway, (fast!)  and I should take it.  I thanked her, took it, and promised I would pay for it the next day, even saying that if it was a snow day )I was already planning ahead)  that I would come on Thursday.  So I did come Thursday morning, and told the cashier to ring me up for two drinks, and the spinach wrap.  She waved her hands in sort of a “sush, never mind” fashion, and charged me for only one drink.  Not even for the wrap.  I must admit, I was puzzled.  I couldn’t figure out if she was trying to compensate me for something that she percieved to be a mistake on their part (I thought that maybe she had forgotten, and thought I was saying something had been wrong with my drink….?) I have no idea what happened there.
2. Speaking of snow days, the Prez. says we are wimpy, and he is so right.  We just loose our minds about it, and the wall to wall news coverage backs us up.  I love my President, but I think the element that he is missing here is: If we go nutty over a few flakes, Eleanor and her hard working teacher pals can have  a day off.  Yes we can!  Yes we can!
3. Finally got all the info into the Altar Guild scheduling grid, by going to Ali’s and having her read me the info, while I entered it.  Much faster.  yay.  Now I just have to shcedule it all out.  Goal:  It is in the email by Sinday night.
4. Busy day.  Beginning to push the student teacher out of the nest. that is, leave the room and let her be in charge.  Go forth!
5. Very sleepy………..zzzzzzzzz
6. Mighty Sleepy

January 27, 2009

1. Hello to the snow.  Early release.  That.  Is what i am talking about.
2. We are working our way into some prime TV season after a long dry spell.  Heroes, 24, Lost, Amazing Race, and Survivor.  Hooray!  I really do like my stories.  24 is shaping up well so far, but we are only 6 hours in.  It takes place in Dc this season, and that means that it is entirely possible that Jack could spend hours 7-9 on the beltway and 10-12 trying to figure out how to work the metro farecard machine.  Stand to the right, walk on the left, Jack.
3. When we are on a project deadline, as the 8th grade is now, trying to do some writing and a display for the anniversary of integration at our school, I become a bit of a drill Sargent.  “Move it move it!”  “Why are you looking at me?  Keep typing!” “Are you done there?  Then come over here because I have got a job for you!  Pick up your feet and MOVE!!”   This is fairly funny in my head, but is probably incredibly annoying to my team mates, not to mention the children.  I just wish one of them would give me a nice Gump answer every now and then.  “Because you told me too Drill Sargent.”
4. Someone in this blog put off doing their Altar Guild schedule, banking that she would have tomorrow off in which to do it.  And cruel experience, children, tell us that she will get totally burned by tempting fate like this.
5. None the less, pajamas on inside out again.  Hey, just following the forecast, Ice tonight.  It’s not me of course, it is all about the safety of the children.  Just kidding, it is totally about me.

January 26, 2009

1. Ok, ok, I haven’t posted my inagural adventures yet.  Ali is doing a good job.  I promise it is coming!
2. For example, if there a a little snow day coming my way I am all over that for an activity.
3. Along with cleaning my room, working on the Altar Guild schedule, and watching 24, which I missed tonight.  So it would be a full day.  I’d also have a nice coffee while reading the paper.
4. Paul, Pennie and I went to see Slum Dog Millionaire tonight.  Very good.  I liked it alot.  So eye opening about Indian, in terms of seeing the cities.  We talked about the slums when studying Mexico city.  I may have to show a few selected clips next year.
5. The annual chili bowl was last night at church.  I helped with the counting, but I should have let one of the newer parishoners who was helping run out with the number to announce it.  Spotlight hog.  Another reason I need to be sent to my room for a snow day.

January 20, 2009

1. My feet are killing me, but my spirits are high. 
2. An endurance challenge getting down to my watching spot at AB’s office.  Read the chronology on Twitter.
3. A little time to rest, then on to the Creative Coalition Party tonight.  Had a great time at the Bluegrass Ball last night. 
4. Who is this social party creature I see before me?  I was such a chatty cathy with some strangers last  night, Ali asked who I was and what I had done with Eleanor.  Must hide soon. 
5. And what’s this about school tomorrow?  Seriously.  Divine intervention in the form of snowstorm please.

January 18, 2009

1. These are exciting times, no?  The Inauguration buzz is all over town.  I’m off to shop and then go help AB with the gift bags for the Kentucky Ball.
2. Through nothing but luck and good friends and family I’ve got some fun activities to go to.  AB has invited me to join her and her folks and friends at the Kentucky Bluegrass ball.  Also, her office is on Pennsylvania Avenue, and I am invited to watch the parade from there!  Snacks! and a bathroom!  Can’t beat that.  Then, my kin J has scored me the primo ticket to the Creative Coalition party.  Awesome!  I went to that 8 years ago and there was all you can eat sushi AND a gift bag!  Hello!  Be assured I will be totally square in both dress and deportment (come early, look nerdy) but am excited to do these things! 
3. I am in a mental state where I am at peace with the fact that the various security restrictions might interfere with my plans.  If I can’t get into the secure zone (where AB’s office is) before it closes, I will at least have the experience with being among the peoples on the mall.  Sure, I’d hate to miss the snacks, but it’s all good I think.
4. My greatest hope is that all the people coming in from elsewhere have a good experience.   I’d hate for them to be disappointed.
5. I find myself getting a little weepy.  This moment has such importance.  I am generally all about a new president, regardless of party, because I love the peaceful change of power every four years (or 8, sigh) but the fact that this guy is 1. an intellectual (God bless his boring well read soul) and 2. the first black president makes it mighty exciting.  I didn’t think much about race during the campaign, but since the election I have begun to feel that the evil of racism was a far greater weight on my soul than I ever knew.  I want to say to the African Americans around me, “thank you.” Thank you for your faith, and your  struggle.  Though I read and know about history, as a white person I can’t truly understand the discrimination that you faced (face – there are still battles to fight.)  Forgive me, for not truly understanding or noticing all these years.  This moment IS important. This IS a turning point in our history.  We can do better for all people.  Yes, we can.

January 13, 2009

1. There is frenetic pace happening: meetings during my planning periods, trips to the bank, back to school to pick things up, emails phone calls, a funeral at church this coming Saturday, frontals to change, vestry tonight. 
2. Leaving the house at 6:30 a.m. to get to school and plan, the only time all day I have available, and of course it is not enough time.
3. All of this happening under the eye of my student teacher so my under planned self feels completely nekkid.
4. Did I mention there was vestry tonight? And a workout in 10 minutes? and questionaires to put out so I can do the schedule for Altar Guild?
5. And it is only Tuesday.

January 11, 2009

The Altar Guild at church has responsibility for all the vestments, linens and shiny things that adorn the church.  Candles, wafers, flowers, the whole smash is our responsibility.  We have a good system of passing on the leadership.  Every six months there is a new president.  From July to January there is the Christmas President and then from January to July is the Easter president.  In December of 2007 our priest asked me if I would be the Easter 2009 President. (You are asked a year out so you can learn from the current president for your season.)  There is a brunch twice a year where we have a meeting, and the serving president turns the keys (and yet another binder, I’m up to 4 now) to the new president.  Usually the outgoing and the incoming presidents make some small remarks. 

I don’t often write things out when I speak in public, except perhaps a few notes on a cocktail napkin.  Usually I really don’t know what I am going to say until shortly before I say it.  But in the last few months, several thoughts about church and Altar Guild had been occurring to me over and over again, so I thought this was an indicator that I ought to try to be more serious for once, and actually pencil out some thoughts.  After the usual thank you type things, I said the following.

 

A verse has been running through my head of late, and I would like to share it with you:

“Let us now praise famous men, men of little showing. For their work continueth, broad and deep continueth, greater than their knowing

I was in college when I read the book “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men” and I knew in the back of my mind that there was a great quote from which that line came. I thought it might be biblical, but of course I wasn’t sure, because I am an Episcopalian, and I couldn’t find it in the prayer book

So I called my mother, who of course, was able to supply me with the above line. It is from a Rudyard Kipling poem, but he drew inspiration from Ecclesiasticus (Not even the bible, but the apocrypha no less?) The lines speak not only of those who have gone before who are known, but those who labored and are forgotten. Their works continue as well. I went on to write my paper and talk about the beauty that comes through use. That things and people that are worn and old and eventually forgotten are beautiful because they have served a purpose

Now, I am not referring to my mother when I say this: I love our beautiful old things in our sacristy. Oh a new crisp linen is lovely to be sure. But my favorite linens to iron are those that are soft and tissue thin, because they have been washed and used over and over through the years. I love how that thinness is representative of all the hands that have touched it, that hands that cut and sew, the hands that wash and iron, the hands that consecrate, even the lips of the congregation, as the linens have slid along and wiped the cup they have used. The things we care for represent the life of our community

I love being on Altar guild, because we are the caretakers of the years, and I think the members of the guild have been wonderful stewards of these beautiful resources. Anything that has had the engraving washed off of it is a well used and well loved thing! Again, the number of hands that have done that work! It is marvelous. That is why something that is a little worn is beautiful to me, knowing how lovingly it has been cared for all along

But more than just caring for these resources, we have the capacity to care for each other. I remember that my first year on the guild was frustrating. I never seemed to know what I was doing! It was the other members of the guild who continued to answer my questions again and again, to show me where the manuals were again and again, and demonstrate again and again their love for not only these things, but their love for Grace, and their love for God. Again and again, they washed me out and ironed me up so I could be ready to serve again another day. I stuck with Altar Guild because of the joy I found in the community that is there. Life gives us dings and dents, and we need the loving kindness of those friends who would pick us up and mend us.

I am honored to be chosen to take on this leadership role. I’m afraid too, because of how much I don’t know, but over the last few months, what other wiser members have made clear to me, is that on altar guild, we don’t stand alone, we stand together, so that if one person stumbles, then some one else supports them.

I aspire to be an old worn thing at Grace. I want all of us to be like these holy vessels and linens and vestments. Carefully cared for so at the end of the day, we are clean and glowing, ready to continue to serve.

I’m very honored to be part of such and organization. To be another link in the chain of those who work quietly, and in community to serve God by serving each other and our fellow parishioners…“For our work continueth, broad and deep continueth, greater than our knowing.”

 

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